2021 what did you do today?

[Roy from Pa]

Hillbilly

Don't know if you ever worked with IPE before, but be careful and wear proper protection when working with it.

IPE has messed up more than one person and it really tore me up.

[Appalachian Hillbilly]

I plan on wearing a respirator.  Was it the dust or were you allergic to the oils etc?

Thanks for the warning!

[Roy from Pa]

Probably both, it really messed up my immune system.

My face looked like I fell in a fire, seen a dermatologist for a couple years after that.

Other guys it doesn't bother them, but some guys are affected by other wood dust.

It's best to protect yourself as much as possible.

[Appalachian Hillbilly]

Wow, that's bad! We're you wearing a respirator? I have heard about people having reactions to some woods.

[Pat B]

Ipe doesn't adversely affect me(now) but I know many others that it does. Some even being near ipe will cause a reaction.

[Flem]

Usually wood dust allergies are acquired by repeated exposure. Good to get in the habit of protecting yourself early, especially since you like tropical woods, or any exotic, oily and tannic woods. I know a few carpenters who cannot work with Cedar or Redwood at all.

[wood carver 2]

Once you start having a reaction to one type of wood, it will not be long before you start becoming allergic to others as well. With me, it started with a little itching after working with pau ferro. A few months later I noticed that I was getting really stuffed up from sanding or turning on the lathe.
Now, I don't take chances. I bought a powered respirator/ filter and I use it in the shop. I'm also more careful about washing up and changing my clothes after I'm done.
Unfortunately, I'm not allergic to painting walls or laying new flooring. 😕
I'm off to do that now. 😁
Dave.

[Appalachian Hillbilly]

Thanks for all the advice. Years ago I worked in a custom furniture shop and later sprayed a lot of automotive paint. Always been good about wearing a mask or respirator.

Got talked into spraying a motorcycle for a friend in his makeshift spray booth. Was a last minute deal and I did not have my respirator.  "Oh it won't take long "....

Industrial pneumonia and a reaction from the chemicals. Forced air respirator for spraying most auto paints!

I learned my lesson early.

[Roy from Pa]

Week after my initial contact with IPE, I looked like I had chicken pox. Had a rash on my entire body. Back to dermatologist and he said it's a contact reaction.

We had to wash everything I wore, all bed sheets and blankets, all towels, etc in free and clear laundry detergent and use free and clear dryer sheets. Free and clear bath soap and shampoo.

That was 10 years ago and all that remains the same today.

IPE really messed up my immune system.

[Flem]

Yeow! That's gnarley
I once watched a guy spray laquer on a kitchen worth of cabinets, no mask and then went and had a couple cigs while the first coat dried.

[Mad Max]

That's how I do it

[Shredd]

  There was a guy that worked in the surfboard factory...  I seen him laying up glass on a surfboard smoking a cigarette...  I asked the guy I was with, "shouldn't he be wearing a mask?"  He says he does not need one...  He breaths through the cigarette and says that filters out the the resin fumes...  I think he died about 7 to 10 years later...  Not to mention that he was smoking a cigarette around major flammable stuff...

   Sometimes its not the wood that is a direct irritant to you...  It could be something you often consume or a drug that changes your body's chemistry and made it more sensitive to certain things...  The wood then becomes a trigger to allergic reactions... I had a bad reaction to Cipro antibiotic and it really screwed me up...  I am still sensitive to certain things and that was 5 or more years ago... That is a very bad drug and has tons of side effects...  Only take it as a last resort...

[Jeff Freeman]

Today last work day of vacation. I glued up my 68 in hopefully 42 lb straight longbow. Hackberry veneers from Kenny. Over maple with the center core of Osage. The riser is I-beam center is bark pocket maple with a special pocket inlaid with turquoise. Osage then maple then Oregon Myrtle on the outside. Nothing really fancy, but I have a plan and I'll see if it works out. JF

[Jeff Freeman]

Oh pictures might help, for the visual.

[Buemaker]

That will turn out very nice.

[mmattockx]

Looking good. I'm interested in how the pockets turn out.


Mark

[Flem]

Thats very cool looking Jeff
Do you crush the Turquoise for your inlays?

[Shredd]

   I am getting a real hankering to build some more bows again...  I got some ideas and tweaking that I am itching to do...  I spent the whole year working on my property when I was not doing carpentry... Figuring that I am getting older and I am not sure how long I could do this kind of work any more...  I got about 5 more things that need to be done and I will not have to do anything major to my property for the rest of my life... (fingers crossed)  Then it's time to have fun again...  Maybe do some traveling...  Go on a bow making walk-a-bout and visit some of you guys and do a thread on it...   

[Mark R]

Hey Shred, plenty of great shoots around the country to travel to, I try to get to as many as possible, here in N. E. Illinois I can go to a different one almost every weekend spring through fall within 2hr. drive, most all have camping available, and some clubs have shoots in winter , let me know if want any info,  If you have'nt been to ETAR or Compton and want to do a little traveling they are both a good time, like the Woodstock of Traditional Archery.

[Shredd]

Yes..!!!   

That sounds great also...  I just started shooting again...  I will try to stay steady on my shooting and hope to be somewhat competitive this summer and maybe sell a couple of bows to finance my travel...